The District of Columbia, though its Interagency Council on Homelessness’ Homeward DC plan, has committed to making homelessness a “rare, brief, and nonrecurring experience” by 2020 and ending chronic homelessness among individuals and families by the end of 2017. CNHED strongly supports these goals, while also advocating that the District maintain broad support for a Continuum of Housing for all residents, with a focus on the most vulnerable.

“This policy brief is an extension of CNHED’s report An Affordable Continuum of Housing . . . Key to a Better City, which formed the basis of our incredibly successful Housing For All Campaign,” said Steve Glaude, President & CEO of CNHED. “In this new policy brief, we turn focused attention to the practices and policies to end homelessness, all in the context of the broader Continuum of Housing.” A copy of that report can be found here.

CNHED believes that an ample supply and array of solutions is needed to end chronic homelessness and to sustain a continuum of housing that meets the needs of the most economically vulnerable residents of the District. CNHED supports Housing First, as well as other evidence-based models that demonstrate successful outcomes for their residents. CNHED believes there should be, including transitional housing for special populations and recovery housing for those who choose this option.

The policy brief was produced through a deliberative process involving nearly two dozen CNHED members and allied organizations who are active in providing housing for persons who are currently experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, and/or formerly experienced homelessness.

As Jim Knight, Executive Director and President of Jubilee Housing, and Co-chair of CNHED’s Housing Committee, stated “One of the things we at CNHED do best is gather practitioners’ input and build consensus around best practices, said “I think we’ve done that for housing and supports for people exiting homelessness. In concert with my Housing Committee Co-chair Rosanne Look, MANNA, Inc., the board and members of CNHED, we look forward to working with our partners to implement key recommendations from the paper.”

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The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED) fosters just and equitable community development solutions that address the needs and aspirations of low- and moderate-income District residents by convening, advocating, and educating diverse stakeholders. More information about CNHED and its programs is available at www.cnhed.org. You can also follow CNHED on Twitter @cnhed, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cnhed.